Your CV is incredibly important, it’s normally the first thing that an employer will see and you only get one chance at a first impression. Here are four main points to remember.

The Best First Impression

There is plenty to consider when drafting the perfect CV. You have to portray your professional skills and abilities as well as showing who you are as a person.

Sometime balancing those two sides can be particularly tricky.

The next four steps will help you on your way to a great CV and strike a chord rather than strike out with a potential employer.

You can browse the internet, as you will find many great examples in which you can base your CV off of. Remember though, you do not want to copy.  

Number One: Remember the basics.

I know it sounds really obvious but people sometimes forget the basics. Your name, address and phone number should be clear and at the top of the page.

If you are sending your CV digitally have your email address as a link – make it as easy as possible for the recruiter to contact you.

And another often forgotten basic? Spell check – always spell check- and even better get someone else to proof-read it for you.

It is amazing how many mistakes you can miss when you have been looking at a document for too long.

A mistake on a CV is pretty unforgivable!

Number Two: Keep it brief.

I hate to say it but people spend very little time reading a CV.

In our experience recruiters will only read the first half of the page in detail – and then glance through the rest.

So make sure your personal statement stands out at the top of the page and then bullet list your achievements. Only giving the full list of responsibilities for your current/last job.

Number Three: Be You.

Your CV is your opportunity to stand out and to highlight why you are the right person for the role. Above all others.

Therefore, you need to make your personal statement unique. What is it about you that makes you exactly the person that they need?

I have seen 1000’s of CV’s that use standard phrases. Phrases such as team player, determined, creative thinker etc and they are all the same.

If you really want to stand out, you need to either come up with skills that are unique to you. Or use examples and statistics to reinforce your point.

For example in your last team project were you the initiator of the idea?  Did you work with the team to execute the idea? Or were you the person who motivated others? What was your role and how did it lead to a successful conclusion? Provide some context for teamwork that is unique for you.

Finally, I do believe you should include a couple of lines about your personal interests and hobbies. This gives them an insight of you outside of work. Helping them to see another side to your personality. If they are relevant to the role – even better!

Number Four – Adapt for them:

It is really easy to see a generic CV. One that has been copied from an online template and submitted for multiple different roles.

The challenge is that it is then left for the recruiter to determine if your profile and experience is right for them. Honestly if they have over 50 different CV’s to look through, they are unlikely to spend the time doing that.

Make the connection for them and save their valuable time: Tailor the CV for the role that you are applying for. Include keywords from the job description or advertisement. 

Another way to streamline your CV is to use examples that you think are appropriate for the role.

Also it is worth knowing that many companies use software to search and categorise CV’s. So if yours do not have the relevant keywords for the position you could be filtered out from the outset.

Increase your chances and tailor your CV for them!

If you would like to have help creating your C.V. or need some constructive feedback – contact us here